Interview with the President : MKU MKUSA LEADER. MARTIN MARTINE

MOUNT KENYA UNIVERSITY : SCALING THE HEIGHTS OF EDUCATION..Thats the newest giant banner that welcomes anyone entering or passing through Thika on the Thika Super Highway Thika Roundabout. Since the launch of Thika Live we have had numerous requests from our readers to feature MKU which we can proudly now present. MKU as an institution is so diversified that we cant be able to cover it in one day. We have therefore broken the presentation into different features which Thika Live will be realeasing bit by bit.

MKU is the latest and fastest growing university in the East African Region. I remember a couple of years ago, there was this small college called Thika Institute of Technology. It was then considered a minor player in the Thika tertiary education sector. Within a few years TIT had revolutionalised education in the central Kenya region and now its the pearl of Thika with its motto being scaling the heights of education. That my friend is now Mount Kenya University.
In every University there is a student fraternity which is headed by a a student Union. Nairobi has SONU, Maseno has SOMU, KU has...  well MKU has MKUSA.  Today we go ahead and bring to you Martin Mashisho Martine..Check Check, that aint a Spanish actor but the President of the Mount Kenya University Students Association. They commonly refer to him as Prezzo Marto. I have seen couple of tall guys here and there but Prezoo my friends is TALL..VERY TALL..Just check this photo
 

This dude is busy but he managed to set some time for an interview at the main campus gardens (very beautiful and well manicured lawns). I must applaud the MKU management for the awesome architecture at the place and the neat environment.

Well lets have a look at how the interview went

Martin, talk to us on the combination of your name, martin and martinae, how did it arise, confusion?

Martin is my first name, Martinae on the other hand is the Maasai name given to me by my parents. 
Tell us something about your background

Well i come from Kajiado Central, Kajiado County. I was born and bred in Kajiado

Being a student in MKU what is your specialty?

Am undertaking a Bachelors in Business Management- Finance Option. Am also a holder of a Diploma in Banking and Finance.

How did you get to know about MKU?

A friend introduced me to MKU. Initially i desired to pursue a course in Broadcasting and Journalism which was my first choice while Banking and Finance was my second choice. However i found that the Journalism college had closed taking applications and since i valued my time and couldn't wait for months to enroll afresh, i went for my Plan B, Finance and Banking. The friend gave me a bronchure which after perusing made me decide on my destiny. Thats how i found myself in MKU. 
Relocating to Thika which was relatively a new town,how was the experience?

Initially it was difficult to cope since the level of security at the time was a  bit wanting. The culture was also different but i quickly adjusted to the new life and took it very positively

How is Thika so far and do you love it?

Thika my friend is awesome. Thika is my second home and i love it. One, life is very affordable especially for a student. Nowadays security is enhanced and the are no issues of lack of water. Accomodation is very affordable and readily availbale.

How did you find yourself into Student Politics ?

I usually don't call it student politics but student leadership. A politician will do anything and go to any lengths to manipulate people and situations for his own sake. On the other hand, a leader can do anything using all machinery to help his people. I consider myself a leader and an in born leader in that case.

What do you mean by inborn leader?
Well i discovered my leadership qualities long time ago. When in Primary school i was selected to be the the school head boy. When i joined High School i was appointed to be the school captain. 2 weeks after joining MKU  i was appointed the Chairman of the Maasai community in the campus. I was then selected the class representative. The following year i chaired the Electoral Commission MKU that oversaw the 2010 student elections. I chaired the same body the next year. In 2012 i was elected as the MKU student body (MKUSA) President. Am also the University representative in the Student Arise in Africa Initiative and this year i was appointed as a member of the TASK Force Committee - Kenya Universities.
That is a very rich curriculum vitae you have there ,but how do you strike a balance between leadership and your studies?
A leader delegates duties that need to be delegated. Am in charge of 37,000 students so there is a high need of delegation. I have ministers who we work with me as a team. On the other hand i allocate time for everything including my studies. During my free time you will find me in the office while in the evening am doing my revisions, assignments or participating in a discussion group. Am an avid handball and basketball fan and you can spot me in the court watching the team train.

Why choose MKU?
Despite being a private university, MKU is the most affordable one. They provide quality education at a very affordable fees structure. MKU also offers courses that you can never find in any private university. Bachelors in Pharmacy and Nursing are very popular courses here. Due to its central location and its presence near the Thika SuperHighway, MKU is the ideal University for any one who needs a serene environmnent for learning. Our city Campus is in Nairobi is a ideally located to cater for the Nairobi students. Our presence is also felf in Rwanda,,,,
What are your future aspirations?
As a leader, my skills can be rendered in many places. My leadership is highly demanded in Kajiado County where the youth want me to vie for a County Representative seat. I really want to finish my Bachelors first then take a Masters from a university in Korea. But i remain a Kenyan at heart and will thereafter come back and take part in nation building.
       
What is your take on Kenyan politics
I believe that Kenyans deserve the best leaders regardless of the tribal background. We should rid ourselves of our tribal tags. I wish Kenya would be like MKU where we have a Maasai Student President, a Kikuyu vice president, a Somali Secretary General with Turkanas, Merus and Luhyas holding numerous ministerial positions. As voters let us not judge voters from the tribal backgroung or depth of their pockets but from the charcter and what they can deliver
Any mentor or role model out there?
I hold Barrack Obama with high esteem. He made Martin Luther King's dream a reality by becoming the first African American president. Though from humble backgroungs and from African descent he ascended to the Highest office in American. His slogan yes we can remains my driving force
What is your parting shot?
I would like to send a message to  Kenyans,as we approach the election period, lets u embrace love, peace and unity. This country remains important than any individual and lets avoid any repetition of the 2007/2008 election violence.
Well Mr president, it has been informative and great talking to you. Thanks for sharing your dream for Kenya and hope we can do it another day.

Well,its been great talking to Thika Live and i really thank you for what you are doing in Thika which i believe is a noble task. Its hard to see people dedicating all their time and energy to marketing their home town the way you are doing. This is a brilliant and creative idea and kudos to your blog. I hope some one out there will spot and acknowledge the good work you are doing. Thank you.
What a man, what an interview..Did i tell you that this interview was held on the university gardens and guess what?  we were sitting on some nice wooden desks (my version of Jeff Koinange Bench). Well the desks are getting hotter..Do Not exit this blog,Keep It THIKA LIVE,,coz this is where we remain ALL THIKA, ALL KENYAN..I give up, i cant be Jeff Koinange
PEACE

Supermarkets in Thika : Lets go shopping

Biscuits, cocoa, tissue paper, sugar,bathing soap, detergents,toothpaste, kiwi, a can of spray and a packet of nodules. For some the list may include more items. For others including me the list may be shorter or even very very short. By short i mean bathing soap and tissue. This my friends is the list of items we used to have when going back to High School after the Holidays or mid term. Many of us who come from the rural areas used to buy the items from the local shop. Those in town and the few from Ushago were lucky to be given cash to pass by the Supermarket in town and buy the needful. At that time Thika had very few supermarkets namely Mathai Supermarket, Maguna Andu and once upon a time Safeways Supermarket. Tuskys Supermarket was just laying its first foundation bricks.

Over time shopping in Thika, has been revolutionized with the entry of different supermarket into the market. This is inclusive of numerous hyper shops and retail joints. The most popular and pioneer supermarket in Thika over the years remains Mathai suermarket. I dont know the origin of the name but i hear from some quarters that thats the name of the owner. Or maybe he is of Maasai descent but i highly doubt it..someone should educate me on that. Initially Mathai supermarket was just a floor of shopping but over time it has expanded to cover about 4 floors of the Mathai building.
Their basement remains my favourite especially the steps where there is that big mirror you cant help looking at yourself. When in the Thika CBD, its the most ideal place to do your shopping. But be wary especially during school opening days since the supermarket is lined by hundreds of High School students. After meeting in the central town the students head into the supermarket in droves which makes that day less than ordinary for household shoppers. Mathai Supermarket's presence in the Central Kenya region is consolidated in Nyeri and Muranga where they have more branches.
After the entry of the Tuskys brand into the Thika Supermarket affair, shopping has never been the same. Its strategic location metres away from the Thika-Garrisa Highway is ideal for upmarket customers especially those near the Section Nine Estate, Juja and those who want to avoid the congestion of the central town. Its location away fron the central district makes it less favourable especally for the ordinary mwananchi who don't own personal cars.
But there are Tuk-Tuks that ply to and fro. Thika Live has observed the shifting of the market towards that route due to emergence of numerous retail joints, pubs, and the ultra modern building housing the new National Bank Thika Branch. The recent municipal directive to rid off the route of matatus heading out of town has also reduced the congestion along the road.
Few years ago, Leens Supermarket was Leens store with its location being the building opposite the Thika Police Station now converted to shopping stalls. However Leens introduced a supermarket wing opposite the December Hotel. The supermarket owned by an Asian Family has upped the competition in the supermarket industry by having a large variety of products housed in their three floors. These include; Electronics, clothing, Household wares and the list is endless.

Kassmart Supermarket centrally located opposite the Christina Gardens is also a popular shopping spot. Although contricted in terms of space, the supermarket is quite a household name. Its central location also makes it a favourite among the Thika consumers. The supermarket outlets also has a branch in Githurai to tap into the densely populated market.

For Thika consumers who frequent the main Bus Park there is the Maguna Andu, Gideon Supermarket and Thika Tex Supermarket. Magunda Andu being on of the pioneer joints is the favorite of the three. Although its space is limited, you cant help but marvel at the thousands of products housed within the small space and still you can get maneuver space with your shopping basket.
Well that was just a brief look at the major supermarkets in Thika. Overtime, Thika Live will have an individual and more personal look at the supermarkets to understand their origin, products and special offers.

We will also introduce our own analysis of the different supermarket's shopping baskets for the Thika consumers to choose from, for the most affordable combination.

We remain yours truly Thika Live.
Pictures courtesy of Google

(Due to public demand) Msanii na Sanaa continues

First, I would love to thank you for all your enquiries and comments yesterday. Your feedback is highly appreciated as we continue to showcase the best of Thika.
Following many of your inquiries into our feature post yesterday, we decided to showcase more of Denno's work so that you can get a wider variety to choose from. Enjoy!

The assortment of paintings up here are by far my favorite. You can choose whichever piece you want and Denno will make it for you!

Prices range from 500-5,000 depending on size and type of artwork.

Keep appreciating great art!

Denno: 0724 026 487

THIKA : Where did all this start..

Long time ago in a nameless place between two big rivers, there arose  a famine that ravaged the whole country. Desperation reigned across societies with communities reporting deaths and diseases that were unfathomable. The Maasai community was the most affected due to their high reliance on livestock farming. This pushed them to migrate southwards looking for better pastures....shhhhhhh....i understand some of us were not lovers of History but a philosopher somewhere uttered that there aint no present without the past...now the story goes that, the Maasai migrated to the nameless place between the two rivers..

Basically you cant migrate and expect to take up someones land without them putting up a fight..so there was a big battle fought between the Maasai and the Kikuyu who were the natives of the land.. My sources tell me that hundred of warriors died in the battle which repulsed the Maasai back to their land..The dead warriors were then buried in the area between the two big rivers where a mound was later erected to mark the site.

Lets simplify the history then..the big fight between the Maasai and the Kikuyu took place between the Thika and the Chania rivers near the Blue Posts Hotel. This historically is the place where the dead warriors were buried. In the Kikuyu language the word bury translates to Thika...and that my friends was where the name for our favorite town originated..